Characteristics of classic tales

Category : Topics in the syllabus

What is a fairy tale?

It's a traditional story written for children about magical events and imaginary creatures such as dwarfs, dragons, elves, fairies, giants, gnomes, goblins, griffins, mermaids, talking animals, trolls, unicorns, or witches.

Examples of fairy tale

Fairy tales exist in every culture in the world and they are strongly influenced by oral traditions. They come from a culture where certain elements were once believed to be real, such as ogres, witches, dragons and sprites. Fairy tales appear in books, movies, music, and art. Sometimes different countries seem to have the same stories, but changed to fit the people and places.

Here is a list of famous fairy tales:

• Little red ridding hood.
• Cinderella.
• Three little pigs.
• Snow white.
• The ugly duckling.
• Pinocchio.
• Sleeping beauty.
• Hansel and Gretel.

Main characteristics

• Fairy tales happen in the long ago. It sets in the past.
• ​A fairy tale begins with "Once upon a time...”
• It has magical and fantasy elements.
• Fairy tales have clearly defined good and evil characters.
• Royalty is usually present in a fairy tale, a beautiful princess or handsome prince.
• Animals have human traits.
• Fairy tales have a problem that needs to be solved.
• It has a happy ending - "they all lived happily ever after".
• Good characters are rewarded and bad characters are punished.
• It usually teaches a lesson or have a theme.

Story elements

Setting

• Unspecified place or time.
• Common places are: forest and castles.

Characters

• Fairy tales have imaginary characters that are good and bad.
• Fairy tales often have royal characters such as kings, queens, princesses and princes.
• Characters in fairy tales often have magical powers or magical things.
• Animals act like people. 

Plot

• The plot focuses on a problem or conflict that needs to be solved.
• Things often happen or appear in "threes" or "sevens". For example: 3 little pigs and 7 dwarfs. 
• Wishes are often granted in fairy tales.

Theme

• Good and evil.
• Right and wrong.
• Justice and injustice.
• Love and hate.
• Weak and strong.
• Revenge and forgiveness.